Over 350 Checks This Year: Driving Without a License at the Wheel

Over 350 inspections this year: Driving without a license at the wheel

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Sometimes a glance at the Via de Cintura or the road to Alcúdia is enough to notice: many are on the road even though they shouldn't be. This year the Guardia Civil on the Balearics stopped more than 350 drivers who could not present a valid driver's license. Some had never had a license, others were on the road even though they had lost points or had their license revoked by a court.

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Checkpoints, meeting points and curious cases

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The checks took place at different times—from nightly raids on the outskirts of Palma to spot checks at roundabouts in Manacor. Time and again drivers, according to witnesses, arrived directly from bars or after parties; in several cases there were positive alcohol or drug tests. In some cases those affected even drove to the examination center, apparently hoping to recover their license—and risking themselves further in the process.

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The Guardia Civil emphasizes clearly: those who drive without a license commit a serious offense. The penalties range from hefty fines to community service to prison sentences in severe cases. In addition there are demerits, longer bans for future exams and a high liability risk in accidents.

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Why this issue hits us all

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The problem affects not only individual drivers. It concerns road safety. When someone drives without training or after license revocation—and then under the influence of alcohol or drugs—the risk of accidents increases significantly. You can notice this in the nightly patrols: emergency services must marshal resources, legal proceedings drag on, courts are busy.

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For residents in places like Llucmajor or Sa Pobla this means: more noise disturbances, more accidents, longer waiting times for rescue vehicles. Taxis and public transport providers are an alternative that many ignore—usually out of habit or cost-cutting. A pedestrian in Palma told me how he stood at a checkpoint last week and observed the scene: two drivers without papers, a third with alcohol on their breath. Not pleasant.

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What now? Tips and outlook

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The Guardia Civil announces further blitz checks. My appeal to everyone: if you do not have a driver's license, you should not get behind the wheel. There are alternatives—bus, taxi, ride-sharing. And if you have lost your license, you should not jeopardize the process of re-licensing by taking risky trips.

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Short-term measures will curb the situation with checks and fines. In the long term, preventive programs and practical driver training should be strengthened so that fewer people rely on unsafe substitute solutions. The island needs safe roads—and that concerns all of us.